Elevator



Aug. 19, 1947. F. A. NovoTNEY ELEVATOR Filed March .'50, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ag. 19, 1947. F. A. NQVOTNEY 2,426,114

` ELEvAToR l Filed March 30, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y l JZoT'? Patented 19, 1947 ELEVATOR Frank A. Novotney, Streator, Ill., assignor to Anthony Company, Streator, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 30, 1945, Serial No. 585,738

11 Claims. (Cl. 187-26) This invention relates to a hoist and particularly to a hoist suitable for mounting on a platform. 'Ihis platform may be movable and may form the body or chassis of a truck.

The invention has for one purpose to provide a hydraulic hoist for raising a load carrying member. In oneform this member may comprise a platform or gate positioned at the rear end or at some other portion of a truck and the invention has for an object to provide such a raising means in connection with the truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoist suitable for use as the tailgate of a vehicle and to provide selective and controllable hydraulic hoisting means for raising and lowering it or for holding it in any predetermined position.

Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specication and claims.

'I'he invention is illustrated more or less. diagrammatically in -the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the hoist mounted on the rear of a truck;

Figure 2 is a side elevation with parts omitted; and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken at line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

The invention is shown as mounted upon a truck but as above stated it is not limited to that use. As shown the truck comprises a floor member I which may be mounted on one or more body sills 2 and may be carried directly from the vehicle chassis or upon a sub frame not shown which may itself be carried on a chassis.

The invention includes a frame rigidly mounted upon the body or floor I. This frame comprises two vertical members 3, 3 which members are secured at their lower ends to the oor I and are Joined to diagonal b'racing members 4. The

members 3 and 4 are preferably of channel section.

A shaft 5 is supported in the members 3 in bearings 6, 6 and a removable and telescopic assembly is supported from and mounted upon the shaft. This telescopic assembly includes exterior channel members 'l, 'l which are Joined to U-shaped members 8, 8. 'I'hese members are supported on the shaft 5 by bearings 9, 9 or otherwise. Movable channel members I0, III are mounted within the members 'l and arranged to slide within them. At their lower ends the members I0 are provided with bracket members II which are rigidly positioned with respect to them and a shaft I2 extends across from one member II to the other'so that these members are in effect tied together by the shaft.

Pivoted upon the shaft or otherwise mounted for swinging movement with respect to the members I0 is a platform or load carrying member I3. At each end this member is pro vided with bracket engaging parts I4 which as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 will contact the members IIa when the platform I3 is in the horizontal position.

The body member I may Ibe provided with rollers I5 or other anti friction members so mounted that when the platform is lowered the members l0 will run along the rollers as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2.

Pins I6 may be mounted in suitable perforations or fittings in the members 3 and are used to hold the movable assembly against outward swinging when desired. When the movable assembly is not to be moved the pins are withdrawn, the channel members I and I0 are swung into line with the channels 3 and the pins are replaced thereby holding the movable assembly against outward swinging. When the assembly is to be swlmg outwardly the pins are withdrawn the assembly is swung outwardly and the pins may be replaced and in that position they serve to hold the assembly in the outward position as indicated in Figures 2 and 3.

As a means for raising and lowering the load carrying member I3 and its associated parts a hydraulic assembly may be used. As shown this assembly comprises a cylinder I8. If desired the cylinder may be mounted upon a base I9 which may also carry one of the members 3 and 4 on the members I. A similar plate or base 20 may be positioned at the opposite side of the assembly as shown in Figure 1 to support the opposite members 3 and 4.

Mounted within the cylinder vI8 is a piston 12| from which a piston rod 22 extends outwardly as shown particularly in Figure 2. Mounted on this piston rod is a sprocket 23. A chain 24 is secured at one end for example by a ring 25 to one of the U-shaped members 8. 'Ihe chain passes about the sprocket 23 and about a second sprocket 26 which is fixed on a shaft 21. This shaftv2l is journaled in the U-shaped members 8, 8. The chain 24 after passing over the sprocket 26 is secured for example by a ring 28 on the right hand members I I) as shown in Figures 1 and 2 'A drum 29 is mounted on the end of the shaft 21 opposite that upon which the sprocket 26 is mounted. A chain or cable 30 is secured at one end to the drum 29 and at the other end as at 3I to the left hand members I as shown in Figure 1.

It will be realized that, whereas, I have described and illustrated a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

In particular the invention is not limited to the use of channel members. Members of any other desirable shape might be used. It is convenient to use channel members and they are shown for that reason only and not as a limitation. It is also to be understood that the particular means for transmitting a lifting effect from one side of the assembly to the other is merely one possible means and the invention is not limited to the particular arrangement of sprocket shaft and drum shown herewith.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

Whatever support the device may be mounted upon, its operation is substantially the same. It is mounted as here shown upon a truck and is positioned at the rear of the truck although it might be positioned along the side. If positioned at the rear of the truck it is convenient to make the width of the assembly substantially the same as the width of the truck body or platform and in that sense the assembly defines the opening at the rear of the truck.

With the assembly mounted on a truck the cylinder is connected to a source of pressure uid which will presumably be a pump operated by the engine of the vehicle in case the device is mounted on a vehicle. Ordinarily the load raising and supporting platform I3 will be out of operation and will be kept in a substantially vertical position to which it may swing from the position illustrated particularly in Figure 2 as indicated by the arrows.

If it is assumed that the mechanism is out of operation Lthe pins I6 will have been withdrawn from the position shown in Figure 2 and the frame formed of the members 'I and I0 will have been swung substantially in lineI with the opening defined by the vertical membersy 3. The platform I3 will have been swung to the upright position and the pins I6 will have been reinserted holding the assembly in the inward or inactive position.

If now it is desired to use the assembly the pins I6 are withdrawn, the platform member I3 is swung to the horizontal position, the entire assembly is pulled to the full line position of Figure 2 and the pins IB are reinserted. Before this is done, pressure will have been supplied to the cylinder to hold the piston sheave 23 in the full line position of Figure 2. If now it is desired to lower the member I3, pressure will be released and the parts will move to the dotted line position of Figure 2, in which the piston rises and the platform I3 falls.

When it is desired to raise the platform I3, pressure is again introduced into the cylinder and the piston is forced downwardly and by means of the chain 24 the sprocket 26, the shaft 21, the drum 29 and the chain or cable 30 positioned about it, the platform is raised to the full line position of Figure 2. These operationsnamely, the raising and lowering-may be carried out as long and as often as necessary.

The use of the apparatus is primarily for raising and lowering material to and from a body, a truck or some other raised support.

I claim:

1. In combination, in a load raising and lowering assembly adapted to be mounted upon a support, members defining a fixed frame, said members adapted to be secured to said support and members defining a, movable frame mounted in said fixed frame, said movable frame including members mounted for swinging movement only and members mounted for telescopic movement with respect thereto, a load carrying platform mounted on said telescopic members, and means adapted to be mounted on said support for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a piston and cylinder assembly, a flexible member fixed upon said 4fixed frame and fixed upon one of said telescopic members, a sprocket adapted to be moved by said piston and engaging said flexible member and a shaft having a. second sprocket, said second sprocket adapted to be engaged by said flexible member to rotate said shaft and a drum fixed on said shaft, a second fiexible member fixed thereto and adapted to be wound thereabout, said second flexible member being fixed to the other telescopic member.

2. In combination, in a load raising and lowering assembly adapted to be mounted upon a support, members defining a, fixed frame, said members adapted to be secured to said support and members defining a movable frame mounted in said xed frame, said movable frame including members mounted for swinging movement only and members mounted for telescopic movement with respect thereto, a load carrying platform movably mounted on said telescopic members, and means adapted to be mounted on said support for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a piston and cylinder assembly, a flexible member fixed upon said xed frame and fixed upon one of said telescopic members, a sprocket adapted to be moved by said 131513011 and engaging said exible member and a shaft having a second sprocket, said second sprocket adapted to be engaged by said flexible member to rotate said shaft and a drum fixed on said shaft, a second flexible member fixed thereto and adapted to be wound thereabout, said second flexible member being fixed to the other telescopic member.

3. In combination, in a load raising and lowering assembly adapted to be mounted upon a support, members defining a fixed frame, said members adapted to be secured to said support and members defining a movable frame mounted in said xed frame, said movable frame including members mounted for swinging movement only and members mounted for telescopic movement with respect thereto, a load carrying platform movably mounted on said telescopic members, means on said telescopic members for limiting the movement of said support and means adapted to be mounted on-said support for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a piston and cylinder assembly, a fiexible member xed upon said fixed frame and xed upon one of said telescopic members, a sprocket adapted to be moved by said piston and engaging said flexible member and a shaft havinga second sprocket.- said second sprocket adapted to be engaged by said flexible member to rotate said shaft and a drum fixed on said shaft, a second flexible member and members defining a movable frame mounted in said fixed frame, saidmovable frame including members mounted for swinging movement only and members mounted for telescopic movement with respect thereto, a load carrying platform mounted on said telescopic members, and means adapted to be mounted on said support for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a piston and ,cylinder assembly. a flexible member fixed at one end upon said iixed frame and fixed at the other end upon one of said telescopic members, a sprocket adapted to be moved by said piston and engaging said flexible member and a shaft having a second sprocket, said second sprocket adapted to be engaged by said flexible member to rotate said shaft and a drum fixed on said shaft, a second exible member fixed thereto and adapted to be wound thereabout, said second flexible member, being fixed to the other telescopic member.

5. In combination, in a load raising and lowering assembly adapted to be mounted upon a support, members defining a fixed frame, said members adapted to be secured to said support and members dening a movable frame mounted in said fixed frame, said movable frame including members mounted for swinging movement only and members mounted for telescopic movement with respect thereto, a load carrying platform movably mounted on said telescopic members, means on said telescopic members for limiting the movement of said platform and means adapted to be mounted on said support for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a piston and cylinder assembly, a flexible member xed at one end upon said xed frame andflxed at the other end upon one of said telescopic members, a sprocket adapted to be moved by said piston and engaging said flexible member and a shaft having a second sprocket, said second sprocket adapted to be engaged by said flexible member to rotate said shaft and a drum fixed on said shaft, a second flexible member fixed thereto and adapted to be wound thereabout, said second flexible member being fixed to the other telescopic member.

6. In combination, a main support, and a raising and lowering assembly mounted thereon,l

said assembly including a. fixed frame supported from said support, said members extending generally vertically and Joined by a transverse member and a movable frame pivoted in said assembly and comprising two pairs of members, one member of each pair being pivoted to said fixed assembly, the other member oi each pair being mounted for telescopic movement with respect to the pivoted member of its pair, and a platform pivoted to said telescopic members, and means for limiting its pivotal movement, means for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a cylinder, a piston movably mounted therein, a flexible member secured at one end to said fixed frame and at the other to one of said telescopic members. a sprocket controlled by said piston and engaging said flexible member whereby movement of the piston draws in or pays out the flexible member and raises or lowers the said platform.

'1. In combination, a main support, and a raising and lowering assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including a fixed frame supported from said support, said members extending generally vertically and joined by a transverse member and a movable frame pivoted in said assembly and comprising two pairs of mated channel members, one member of each pair being pivoted to said fixed assembly, the other member4 of each pair being mounted for telescopic movement with respect to the pivoted member of its pair, and a platform pivoted to said telescopic members, and means for limiting its pivotal movement, means for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a cylinder, a piston movably mounted therein, a ilexible member secured at one end to said xed frameand at the other to one of said telescopic members, a sprocket controlled by said piston and engaging said flexible member whereby movement of the piston draws in or pays out the flexible member and raises or lowers the said platform.

8. In combination, a main support, and a raising and lowering assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including a fixed frame supported from said support and formed of a plurality of channel members, said members extending generally vertically and joined by a transverse memberand a movable frame pivoted in said assembly and comprising two pairs of members, one member of veach pair being pivoted to said xed assembly, the other member of each pair being mounted for telescopic movement with respect to the pivoted member of its pair, and a platform pivoted to said telescopic members, and means for limiting its pivotal movement, means for raising and lowering said telescopic meinbers, said means including a cylinder, a piston movably mounted therein, a flexible member secured at one end to said fixed frame and at the other to one of saidV telescopic members, a sprocket controlled by said piston and engaging said flexible member whereby movement of the piston draws in or pays out the flexible member and raises or lowers the said platform.

9. In combination, a main support, and a raising and lowering assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including a xed frame supported from said support and formed of a plurality ofchannel members, said members extending generally vertically and joined by a transverse member and va, movable frame pivoted in said assembly and comprising two pairs of mated channel members, one member of each pair being pivoted to said fixed assembly, the other member of each pair being mounted for tele- Lscopic movement with respect to the pivoted member of its pair, and a platform pivoted to said telescopic members, and means for limiting its pivotal movement, mans for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a cylinder, a piston movably mounted therein, a flexible member secured at one end to said xed frame and at the other to one of said telescopic members, a sprocket controlled by said piston and engaging said flexible member, whereby movement of the piston draws in or pays out the flexible member and raises or lowers the said platform. 'l

l0. In combination, a main support, and a raising and lowering assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including a fixed frame supported from said support. said members extending generally vertically and joined by a transverse member and a movable frame pivoted in said assembly and comprising two pairs of mated channel members. one member of each pair being pivoted to said ilxed assembly, the other member of each pair being mounted for telescopic movement with respect to the pivoted member of its pair, and a platform pivoted to said telescopic members, means for limiting the swinging movement of said platform to retain it in a horizontal position and means for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a cylinder, a piston movably mounted therein, a flexible member secured at one end to said fixed frame and at the other to one of said telescopic members, a sprocket controlled by said piston and engaging said iiexible member, whereby movement of the piston draws in or pays out the flexible member and raises or lowers the said platform.

11. In combination, a main support, and a raising and lowering assembly mounted thereon, said assembly including a xed frame supported from said support and formed of a plurality of channel members, said members extending generally vertically and joined by a transverse member and a movable frame pivoted in said assembly and comprising two pairs of mated channel members. one member of each pair being pivoted to said fixed assembly, the other member of each pair being mounted for telescopic movement with respect to the pivoted member of its pair, and a platform pivoted to said telescopic members, means for limiting the swinging movement of said platform to retain it in a horizontal position and means for raising and lowering said telescopic members, said means including a cylinder, a piston movably mounted therein, a flexible member secured at one end to said xed frame and at the other to one of said telescopic members, a sprocket controlled by said piston and engaging said flexible member, whereby movement of the piston draws in or pays out the iexible member and raises or lowers the said platform.

FRANK A. NOVOTNEY. 

